Former Daily Times worker pleads guilty over thefts

A former Portsmouth Daily Times employee charged with felony theft in connection with a series of thefts from the newspaper, has bonded out and will be scheduled for a sentencing hearing.

Joshua Charles, 32, who now lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, entered a guilty plea to the felony 5 charge Monday in the courtroom of Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge Howard H. Harcha III. He was not sentenced, but was passed for a presentence investigation, which the court says should take approximately a month for the completion of the paperwork.

Records at the Tri-County Jail in Mechanicsburg, Ohio show that Charles was arrested in November by Madison County authorities on a bench warrant from Scioto County. He was released on Nov. 29, and was incarcerated in the Scioto County Jail on Nov. 30, then released Monday, pending further activity in the case.

Charles was charged with theft of at least $4,800, by pocketing money from the recycling of paper from the Portsmouth Daily Times. On Tuesday, the Times received a restitution check from Attorney Mike Mearan in the amount of $4,800.

A court spokeswoman said both sides will now do reports and then present those reports to the judge. The case will then be set for sentencing.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com

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